Junior Dequon Miller (G, Charleston, W.Va.) and senior Camyn Boone (F, Mesa, Ariz.) were the top award recipients Sunday (April 10) at the annual Missouri State University men's basketball awards banquet, held at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Miller was presented with the Coors Player of the Year Award, while Boone was selected as this year's Guy Thompson Award recipient.
The Coors Player of the Year Award is sponsored by Heart of America Beverage and carries with it a $1,500 scholarship to the Missouri State general scholarship fund in the name of the winner. Coors is also the title sponsor of the MSU Player of the Week honors. The weekly and yearly awards are selected by a panel of Missouri State media representatives.
Miller was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year — just the fifth Bear to receive that honor — and was an honorable mention All-MVC selection during his first season in Springfield. He led the Bears in scoring (12.7 points per game), 3-point shooting (57), assists (96) and minutes played (1,110). He ranked among the Valley's top 10 leaders in all four categories, was the league's seventh-best scorer (13.4) in conference games and was one of the nation's top 100 performers in minutes played per game (34.7).
The transfer from Motlow (Tenn.) College is the second straight junior transfer to earn the Coors Player of the Year after Boone won the award in 2014-15. Miller is the third-best returning scorer in the Missouri Valley Conference headed into next season.
The Guy Thompson Award is presented annually to the men's basketball senior player who demonstrates outstanding character, leadership, athleticism and academic success. The award is named in honor of the former MSU registrar and long-time basketball public address announcer.
Boone scored 647 points and snagged 371 rebounds in two seasons at MSU, earning 58 starts in 62 appearances for the Bears. He was MSU's second-best scorer this season behind Miller, posting 12.2 points per game, and led the Bears in rebounding in each of his two seasons. He also finished the 2015-16 campaign ranked third in the MVC in field goal percentage (.504) and fourth in rebounds (6.5).
Conference award winners Miller, Chris Kendrix (So., Willard, Mo.), Obediah Church (Fr., Springfield, Ill.), Jarred Dixon (Fr., Kansas City, Mo.) and Tyler McCullough (Jr., Fayetteville, Ark.) were also honored and presented certificates from the Missouri Valley Conference office. Kendrix was named to the MVC's Most-Improved Team this season, while Church and Dixon earned MVC All-Freshman Team laurels, and McCullough (second team) was honored as an MVC Scholar-Athlete Team recipient for the second year in a row. Miller, a five-time recipient, and Dixon, a one-time winner, were also presented certificates for their MVC Newcomer of the Week honors they earned during the season.
The MSU Coors Players of the Week were also recognized for their contributions this season as follows:
2015-16 Coors Players of the Week (Date, Opponents, Recipient)
Nov. 8 Oral Roberts – Obediah Church
Nov. 15 Butler, Minn. – Camyn Boone
Nov. 22 Miss. State, Wm. Woods – Camyn Boone
Nov. 29 Utah State, Okla. St. – Chris Kendrix
Dec. 6 IUPUI – Camyn Boone
Dec. 13 Tulsa, ORU, Valpo – Camyn Boone
Dec. 20 SEMO – Jarred Dixon
Dec. 27 Illinois St., Evansville – Dequon Miller
Jan. 3 UNI, Loyola – Dequon Miller
Jan. 10 Wichita St., Bradley – Obediah Church
Jan. 17 Drake – Dequon Miller
Jan. 24 SIU, Indiana St., Illinois St. – Jarred Dixon
Jan. 31 Bradley, Evansville – Chris Kendrix
Feb. 7 UNI, Indiana State – Chris Kendrix
Feb. 14 Wichita State – Obediah Church
Feb. 21 Loyola, Drake, Southern Ill. – Camyn Boone
Feb. 28 MVC Tournament – Camyn Boone
Past Coors Players of the Year Recipients
1983 Ricky Johnson
1984 Chris Scott
1985 Brian Smith, Randy Stange
1986 Winston Garland
1987 Winston Garland
1988 Stan Worthy
1989 Hubert Henderson, Kelby Stuckey
1990 Lee Campbell
1991 Arnold Bernard
1992 Jackie Crawford
1993 Johnny Murdock
1994 Johnny Murdock
1995 Johnny Murdock
1996 Johnny Epps, Robert Wilkerson
1997 Danny Moore
1998 Kevin Ault, Ben Kandlbinder
1999 Danny Moore
2000 Kevin Ault, Allen Phillips
2001 Mike Wallace
2002 Scott Brakebill, Terrance McGee
2003 Terrance McGee
2004 Merrill Andrews
2005 Tamarr Maclin
2006 Blake Ahearn
2007 Blake Ahearn
2008 Dale Lamberth, Deven Mitchell
2009 Chris Cooks
2010 Adam Leonard
2011 Kyle Weems
2012 Kyle Weems
2013 Anthony Downing
2014 Jarmar Gulley
2015 Camyn Boone
2016 Dequon Miller
Past Guy Thompson Award Recipients
1969 Mert Bancroft
1971 Chuck Williams
1972 Bob Curl
1973 Eric Thompson
1974 Randy Magers
1976 Daryel Garrison
1978 Jimmie Dull
1980 Larry Lewis
1981 Ed Liliensiek
1982 Mark Lance
1983 Ricky Johnson
1984 Anthony Boggs
1985 Brian Smith
1986 Phil Schlegel
1987 Scott Hickox
1988 Stan Worthy
1989 Kelby Stuckey
1990 Chris Stange
1991 David Brewer
1992 Andre Rigsby
1993 Dale Ribble
1994 Tom Schellemans
1995 Clint Thomas
1996 Monte Marsh
1997 Coleco Buie
1998 Ben Kandlbinder
1999 Danny Moore
2000 Eric Judd
2001 Matt Rueter
2002 Scott Brakebill
2003 Jason Gilbert
2004 Monwell Randle
2005 Trevyor Fisher
2006 Kellen Easley
2007 Tyler Chaney
2008 Drew Richards
2009 Spencer Laurie
2010 Justin Fuehrmeyer
2011 Jermaine Mallett
2012 Isaiah Rhine
2013 Anthony Downing
2014 Keith Pickens
2015 Christian Kirk
2016 Camyn Boone
